Written by Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick and Ryan Reynolds, based on the comic books by Fabian Nicieza and Rob Liefeld.

Directed by David Leitch.

GRADE: A-

REVIEW:

Being bad is kind of the new heroism these days. The days of John Wayne, Gary Cooper, Charlton Heston and other fellas in “white hats” are long gone, as the anti-hero movement takes over. Even some of the contemporary “good guys” have a naughty streak or possess some brand of violent tendency (Iron Man/Tony Stark, Batman). Then, there’s Deadpool, a character with all the grace and sensitivity of public restroom graffiti. Deadpool 2 hits theaters this week and builds on the gratuitous reputation of the most irreverent superhero ever conceived.

Ryan Reynolds is back as Wade Wilson/Deadpool, a disfigured man who derives special powers from a failed scientific process meant to cure his terminal cancer. When we left Deadpool at the end of the first film, he had just been reunited with his fiancé Vanessa (Morena Baccarin) and is now fighting crime (some would say taking gleeful revenge on the worst criminals) in his read suit, unable to be killed. After one particular crime boss gets away, repercussions affect someone very close to Wade, sending him into a deep depression. To the rescue come to X-Men team members Colossus (Stefan Kapičić) Megasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand) and her new girlfriend Yukio (Shioli Kutsuna), who convince Wade to join Professor Xavier’s school for mutants as a trainee. When the team is called out to save a mutant boy named Firefist (Julian Dennison), Deadpool takes things a little too far, and ends up in a mutant prison (with Firefist), where the occupants are fitted with collars that neutralize their powers. In the meantime, a time travelling soldier named Cable (Josh Brolin) comes calling, intent on killing Firefist in order to alter a rather tragic future. During Cable’s attack on the prison, Deadpool escapes and vows to help Firefist overcome his rage, while protecting him from Cable. Consulting with his pal Weasel (T.J. Miller) and favorite cab driver Dopinder (Karan Soni), Deadpool assembles a team of mutants with plans to save Firefist. Among the team is Domino (Zazie Beetz) a woman with the power of being lucky. Their plan goes tragically wrong for most team members, but Deadpool does eventually meet up with Cable and convinces him to allow Firefist one more chance to control his rage. Tough choices must be made, as Deadpool is forced to choose between saving himself or the people around him.

Deadpool 2 has all the irreverent humor, comic gore, foul language and all-around raunchy behavior of the first film, but it also has a little something extra. Yes, under all that blood and vulgar wisecrackery is a story about “family” in the broadest sense. Turns out our antihero has scruples after all, and there is a positive message at play, even if it’s delivered with a heaping side of boorish behavior and language that would make most sailors blush.

There are also a lot of hilarious cameos and surprises in Deadpool 2, most having to do with Deadpool’s obsession over Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) and a few references to Ryan Reynold’s career choices. It’s well worth the wait through the end credits for some of the jokes.

It’s also worth mentioning Reynolds’ supporting cast, which is bolstered by Hildebrand’s talent for smart-assery that rivals the leading man himself. Newcomer Zazie Beetz, also hits all the right notes in Deadpool’s sarcastic ensemble, while also playing one cool superhero.

Again, I can’t stress this enough: Deadpool 2 is NOT for kids. It’s rated R for good reason, so if you’re little squeamish around overly descriptive sexual humor, gore and other film vices, stay away, but more importantly, keep your kids away, even if they rationalize, “Mom, it’s only a “Marvel Movie!”